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Malt Shop Milestones #1
Vicky’s Victory
Malt Shop Milestones, Book One
Young lives. First loves. And a classic American period enlivened by jukeboxes and chocolate malts.
Vicky, a bookish sixteen-year-old, wouldn’t call herself popular. But around her thriving Black community of West Hill, and especially at school, she’s pretty well-known: as “The Brain of West Hill High.” In addition to keeping her grades up this year, she’s looking to make an impact writing for the school newspaper. A step toward her goal of becoming a journalist one day.
On a different note, Vicky is ready to get a new, real taste of romance. She dreams of spending time with an interesting guy who’ll be a match for her head as well as her heart. A guy who’ll applaud her career ambitions.
But finding someone like that might be too much to hope for in high school. Maybe?
Come along on a memorable milestone journey—here in this nostalgic nod to the bygone era of "malt shop" books.
Young lives. First loves. And a classic American period enlivened by jukeboxes and chocolate malts.
Vicky, a bookish sixteen-year-old, wouldn’t call herself popular. But around her thriving Black community of West Hill, and especially at school, she’s pretty well-known: as “The Brain of West Hill High.” In addition to keeping her grades up this year, she’s looking to make an impact writing for the school newspaper. A step toward her goal of becoming a journalist one day.
On a different note, Vicky is ready to get a new, real taste of romance. She dreams of spending time with an interesting guy who’ll be a match for her head as well as her heart. A guy who’ll applaud her career ambitions.
But finding someone like that might be too much to hope for in high school. Maybe?
Come along on a memorable milestone journey—here in this nostalgic nod to the bygone era of "malt shop" books.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2024
17 people want to read
About the author
Nadine C. Keels
46 books246 followers
Nadine. A French name, meaning, "hope."
Her lifelong passion for the power of story makes reading and writing an adventure for Nadine C. Keels. She’s driven to write the kinds of stories she’s always wanted to read but couldn’t always find, featuring diverse and uncommon lead characters in a medley of genres.
Through her books and her blogs (Prismatic Prospects, Gentle Reads Fiction, and Selectively Gritty Fiction), Nadine aims to spark hope and inspiration in as many people as she can reach.
Her lifelong passion for the power of story makes reading and writing an adventure for Nadine C. Keels. She’s driven to write the kinds of stories she’s always wanted to read but couldn’t always find, featuring diverse and uncommon lead characters in a medley of genres.
Through her books and her blogs (Prismatic Prospects, Gentle Reads Fiction, and Selectively Gritty Fiction), Nadine aims to spark hope and inspiration in as many people as she can reach.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 12, 2025
“… make sure stuff gets written down. Keep records of who we are. So people will know and remember.”
I was first drawn to Vicky’s Victory because of that striking cover, and of course by the fact that Nadine C. Keels wrote it. I stayed for the opportunity to learn more about Black history post WW2 … and for the swoony romantic tension (to no one’s surprise). But I also became really intrigued by the vintage ‘malt shop romance’ genre that I’d never heard of but was apparently popular among teens/young adults in the 40s-60s, revolving around the popular teen hangouts of the day. What a fun genre! And I’m so delighted that Keels is writing a series of these books where Black characters are prominent and not constricted by stereotypes. Because, like that quote I opened with, it’s important to understand history in its fully diverse context, to know and remember the sacrifices – yes – but also that everyday life didn’t happen to exclusively white people, as novels and film and TV tended to imply.
Ok, stepping off my soapbox that I didn’t really plan to bring out haha… back to our regularly scheduled review.
I loved the main character of Vicky’s Victory, and I have a feeling that you will too. She’s smart, ambitious, kind, a little sassy, and she’s got a great sense of humor. She’s also one of us, y’all – a certified lover of words whose dream date involves reading purely for the fun of it. And she’s pretty certain that’s the kind of guy she wants, too… until a childhood friend (who’s now their high school’s star football player) crashes back onto her radar with a grin that she reacts to as though ‘she’d never been grinned at before‘. Be still my heart. The romantic tension between Willie and Vicky is all kinds of sweet and delicious and lovely, and it made ME grin like a besotted fool. Willie’s approach to showing his feelings to Vicky may not be obvious to her but oh it melted me. He’s such an endearing hero with a little bit of a flirt tucked inside an ultimately shy heart.
Bottom Line: Vicky’s Victory by Nadine C. Keels gives us a delightful taste of a vintage genre that may not be familiar to most of us – malt shop YA romance – with a needed, more authentic splash of color. The music, the malt shop food (and the origins of a classic sandwich), the Black American community setting, the clothes, all of it adds to the nostalgic atmosphere and engaging tone of this quick read. Willie and Vicky not only make a cute couple, they’re the kind of people I would want as friends – or, I guess since I’m old, the kind of young people I would want as friends for my nieces and nephews. There’s a lot of historical insight in this story, too, and it got me looking up more info on several aspects of Black American history that I wasn’t taught in school. So excited that this is the first in a new series, and I’m really looking forward to the next book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
I was first drawn to Vicky’s Victory because of that striking cover, and of course by the fact that Nadine C. Keels wrote it. I stayed for the opportunity to learn more about Black history post WW2 … and for the swoony romantic tension (to no one’s surprise). But I also became really intrigued by the vintage ‘malt shop romance’ genre that I’d never heard of but was apparently popular among teens/young adults in the 40s-60s, revolving around the popular teen hangouts of the day. What a fun genre! And I’m so delighted that Keels is writing a series of these books where Black characters are prominent and not constricted by stereotypes. Because, like that quote I opened with, it’s important to understand history in its fully diverse context, to know and remember the sacrifices – yes – but also that everyday life didn’t happen to exclusively white people, as novels and film and TV tended to imply.
Ok, stepping off my soapbox that I didn’t really plan to bring out haha… back to our regularly scheduled review.
I loved the main character of Vicky’s Victory, and I have a feeling that you will too. She’s smart, ambitious, kind, a little sassy, and she’s got a great sense of humor. She’s also one of us, y’all – a certified lover of words whose dream date involves reading purely for the fun of it. And she’s pretty certain that’s the kind of guy she wants, too… until a childhood friend (who’s now their high school’s star football player) crashes back onto her radar with a grin that she reacts to as though ‘she’d never been grinned at before‘. Be still my heart. The romantic tension between Willie and Vicky is all kinds of sweet and delicious and lovely, and it made ME grin like a besotted fool. Willie’s approach to showing his feelings to Vicky may not be obvious to her but oh it melted me. He’s such an endearing hero with a little bit of a flirt tucked inside an ultimately shy heart.
Bottom Line: Vicky’s Victory by Nadine C. Keels gives us a delightful taste of a vintage genre that may not be familiar to most of us – malt shop YA romance – with a needed, more authentic splash of color. The music, the malt shop food (and the origins of a classic sandwich), the Black American community setting, the clothes, all of it adds to the nostalgic atmosphere and engaging tone of this quick read. Willie and Vicky not only make a cute couple, they’re the kind of people I would want as friends – or, I guess since I’m old, the kind of young people I would want as friends for my nieces and nephews. There’s a lot of historical insight in this story, too, and it got me looking up more info on several aspects of Black American history that I wasn’t taught in school. So excited that this is the first in a new series, and I’m really looking forward to the next book.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
June 24, 2025
As I mentioned before, Nadine C. Keels has a way of writing that truly pulls you into the story and her characters' lives. This is readily apparent in just the first few pages of Vicky's Victory. I stared Vicky's Victory, and finished it in one sitting, even though I wanted to savor it. Nadine C. Keels just makes it so doggon difficult to put a book down. See the quotes below as evidence:
"Not everything in life will fit exactly into the first ideas we had. But that's part of the beauty of living. Finding out more than we imagined at first."
In Vicky's Victory, we meet Vicky and a few of her close friends (whom I'm hoping we get stories of in the rest of the Malt Shop Milestones series!), as they navigate school, life, and the stigmas of the time. The post-World War II era stigmas particularly affecting women and their predetermined roles in life. Nadine C. Keels handled the "old-fashioned" ideas remarkably well. Giving nods to both traditional women's roles, while still saying it was okay to follow God's leading to do more for you and your family.
I loved visiting the soda fountain shop, which felt like a local neighborhood hangout, and I wish it were still around today. The nods to jukebox dancing and how songs and their lyrics are a language all their own in the sweetest of ways. The light romance, that was a secondary plot, made me smile at its sweetness, and quite possibly crave a GOOD peanut butter and jelly sandwich (if you know you know).
One of my favorite aspects of this story, though, was Vicky's dedication and thought process in wanting to capture more of history on paper, so we don't forget the stories happening around us with everyday friends. It is something we truly are losing on a daily basis.
"...make sure stuff gets written down. Keep records of who we are. So people will know and remember.”
Can't wait to read more in this series! A good choice for any girl struggling to know where to go in life.
Originally Published on Traveler's Wife 4 Life
"Not everything in life will fit exactly into the first ideas we had. But that's part of the beauty of living. Finding out more than we imagined at first."
In Vicky's Victory, we meet Vicky and a few of her close friends (whom I'm hoping we get stories of in the rest of the Malt Shop Milestones series!), as they navigate school, life, and the stigmas of the time. The post-World War II era stigmas particularly affecting women and their predetermined roles in life. Nadine C. Keels handled the "old-fashioned" ideas remarkably well. Giving nods to both traditional women's roles, while still saying it was okay to follow God's leading to do more for you and your family.
I loved visiting the soda fountain shop, which felt like a local neighborhood hangout, and I wish it were still around today. The nods to jukebox dancing and how songs and their lyrics are a language all their own in the sweetest of ways. The light romance, that was a secondary plot, made me smile at its sweetness, and quite possibly crave a GOOD peanut butter and jelly sandwich (if you know you know).
One of my favorite aspects of this story, though, was Vicky's dedication and thought process in wanting to capture more of history on paper, so we don't forget the stories happening around us with everyday friends. It is something we truly are losing on a daily basis.
"...make sure stuff gets written down. Keep records of who we are. So people will know and remember.”
Can't wait to read more in this series! A good choice for any girl struggling to know where to go in life.
Originally Published on Traveler's Wife 4 Life
January 16, 2025
I've read several of Nadine's books, but so far, Vicky's Victory has been the lightest, easiest read. While I still love how Nadine handles the heavier topics in some of her other books I've read, I really enjoyed seeing this lighter book.
I loved the vintage feel of this book! It made the book feel so warm and homey. I appreciated the author's note at the end explaining her inspiration and the concept of a "malt shop book;" I'd not heard of the genre before, but it was interesting to learn about it!
Since I've started by talking about genre/aesthetics, I'll finish covering the topic while transitioning to actually talking about the story and characters.
This book is definitely a YA/coming-of-age type novel, but it is one of the best YA novels I've read as far as promoting healthy relationships and being realistic to the age levels of the characters. Lots of YA novels show teens falling in love and pledging their lives away after having known the love interest for a few days. While I still love the stereotypical YA novel, it was refreshing to see a book that promoted more realistic, healthier relationships.
Vicky is a bright, ambitious student who wants to become a journalist. She wants to be recognized based on her skills, not because she happens to be a female. I loved seeing Vicky's drive to succeed in everything she put her mind to. Her efforts with her schoolwork were quite relatable! I especially enjoyed the scene where she explains her frustrations with group projects.
There was a small love triangle in this book. Usually, I don't love the love triangle trope, but I thought Nadine handled it well! This book's romance was fairly light, which also affected the trope.
Overall, I enjoyed this sweet, light story from Nadine Keels! If you enjoy stories with a homey, vintage feel, I'd recommend reading this book!
I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
I loved the vintage feel of this book! It made the book feel so warm and homey. I appreciated the author's note at the end explaining her inspiration and the concept of a "malt shop book;" I'd not heard of the genre before, but it was interesting to learn about it!
Since I've started by talking about genre/aesthetics, I'll finish covering the topic while transitioning to actually talking about the story and characters.
This book is definitely a YA/coming-of-age type novel, but it is one of the best YA novels I've read as far as promoting healthy relationships and being realistic to the age levels of the characters. Lots of YA novels show teens falling in love and pledging their lives away after having known the love interest for a few days. While I still love the stereotypical YA novel, it was refreshing to see a book that promoted more realistic, healthier relationships.
Vicky is a bright, ambitious student who wants to become a journalist. She wants to be recognized based on her skills, not because she happens to be a female. I loved seeing Vicky's drive to succeed in everything she put her mind to. Her efforts with her schoolwork were quite relatable! I especially enjoyed the scene where she explains her frustrations with group projects.
There was a small love triangle in this book. Usually, I don't love the love triangle trope, but I thought Nadine handled it well! This book's romance was fairly light, which also affected the trope.
Overall, I enjoyed this sweet, light story from Nadine Keels! If you enjoy stories with a homey, vintage feel, I'd recommend reading this book!
I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
July 4, 2025
I received an ARC copy of Vicky’s Victory from Nadine C. Keels, and this novella was genuinely enjoyable. Although it’s a short read at about 116 pages, it felt longer in the best way—like the story was full, complete, and emotionally satisfying by the time I reached the final page.
The characters were all lovable, but Vicky, the narrator and heart of the story, was easily my favorite. Through her, we get to experience many of her "firsts"—first dances, first love, and all the excitement and uncertainty that comes with growing up. Her voice was so warm and authentic that I couldn’t help but root for her.
Willie was another standout character for me. He brought some humor and heart to the story, and I especially appreciated that he wasn’t just there for comic relief—he had meaningful growth of his own. And yes, his beard definitely made him memorable!
The one thing that kept me from giving this a full five stars was the title. I’m still not entirely sure what Vicky’s Victory referred to. Maybe it was meant to be symbolic or subtle, but I expected a clearer “victory” moment for Vicky. Still, that didn’t take away from the emotional arc of her journey.
I really appreciated the historical setting—the 1950s—especially since the story centers around a Black teenage girl, a perspective that’s not often highlighted in fiction set in that time period. The writing felt true to the era, with just the right amount of historical detail and period-specific language to make it believable without feeling overdone.
At first, I found the chapters a little too long for such a short book, but the pacing smoothed out by the middle, and I found myself more absorbed in the story as it went on. The ending was sweet and cozy, with Vicky ending up with Willie, though I do wish we had seen a little more of their happiness together after all the buildup.
Overall, this was a lovely, heartfelt novella that exceeded my expectations. If you enjoy character-driven stories with historical settings and gentle romance, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
The characters were all lovable, but Vicky, the narrator and heart of the story, was easily my favorite. Through her, we get to experience many of her "firsts"—first dances, first love, and all the excitement and uncertainty that comes with growing up. Her voice was so warm and authentic that I couldn’t help but root for her.
Willie was another standout character for me. He brought some humor and heart to the story, and I especially appreciated that he wasn’t just there for comic relief—he had meaningful growth of his own. And yes, his beard definitely made him memorable!
The one thing that kept me from giving this a full five stars was the title. I’m still not entirely sure what Vicky’s Victory referred to. Maybe it was meant to be symbolic or subtle, but I expected a clearer “victory” moment for Vicky. Still, that didn’t take away from the emotional arc of her journey.
I really appreciated the historical setting—the 1950s—especially since the story centers around a Black teenage girl, a perspective that’s not often highlighted in fiction set in that time period. The writing felt true to the era, with just the right amount of historical detail and period-specific language to make it believable without feeling overdone.
At first, I found the chapters a little too long for such a short book, but the pacing smoothed out by the middle, and I found myself more absorbed in the story as it went on. The ending was sweet and cozy, with Vicky ending up with Willie, though I do wish we had seen a little more of their happiness together after all the buildup.
Overall, this was a lovely, heartfelt novella that exceeded my expectations. If you enjoy character-driven stories with historical settings and gentle romance, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.
February 20, 2026
When Vicky is accepted to write for the high school newspaper, she can’t help but feel a little miffed that she’s put on the society and fashion column because she’s a girl. Nonetheless, she’s determined to show the editor that she can write a GREAT article.
As she faces off against sexism and high school boys who are more into her pretty face or brainy reputation than her personality, she starts to fall for a childhood friend (who also happens to be a star football player for their school.)
Vicky’s Victory is a coming of age story modeled after vintage malt shop fiction, but with a key difference: the (fictional) neighborhood of West Hill is a primarily Black neighborhood, reminding the reader that our Black community has always been a large part of US culture – including meeting friends at the local malt shop for a malt and a dance.
I enjoyed Vicky’s feminist determination to prove herself as a writer, and the commentary on Black community & music as well as women’s roles post-WWII.
Nadine C. Keels took the malt shop fiction genre and reclaimed it, featuring a predominantly Black community where there traditionally would have been whitewashing or straight up racism, and emphasizing a feminist message while remaining true to the cute, clean, nostalgic 50s vibes.
Vicky’s Victory is a great fit for teens with an interest in historical fiction, clean romance, Black stories, and feminism.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Nadine C. Keels for the ebook ✨
As she faces off against sexism and high school boys who are more into her pretty face or brainy reputation than her personality, she starts to fall for a childhood friend (who also happens to be a star football player for their school.)
Vicky’s Victory is a coming of age story modeled after vintage malt shop fiction, but with a key difference: the (fictional) neighborhood of West Hill is a primarily Black neighborhood, reminding the reader that our Black community has always been a large part of US culture – including meeting friends at the local malt shop for a malt and a dance.
I enjoyed Vicky’s feminist determination to prove herself as a writer, and the commentary on Black community & music as well as women’s roles post-WWII.
Nadine C. Keels took the malt shop fiction genre and reclaimed it, featuring a predominantly Black community where there traditionally would have been whitewashing or straight up racism, and emphasizing a feminist message while remaining true to the cute, clean, nostalgic 50s vibes.
Vicky’s Victory is a great fit for teens with an interest in historical fiction, clean romance, Black stories, and feminism.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Nadine C. Keels for the ebook ✨
January 22, 2025
I enjoyed this short YA novel. I liked that the romance was fairly realistic and didn't progress too quickly. Vicky's love of books made her a relatable character, and the setting was a charming portrayal of a close-knit community. I haven't read any malt shop novels--or if I have, it was a long time ago--but I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes the genre or simply enjoys well-written and cozy YA fiction.
March 6, 2026
Personal copy
Vicky Phillips is a high school student in the late 1940s in Port Milestone. She wants to attend college and be a journalist, so is happy to write for her school's newspaper, the Black Diamond Daily, but is irritated that editor Ed assigns her articles about fashion and recipes instead of serious news, just because she is female, since the other female staff member, Hester, does the advice column. Vicky's father is a bank security officer who worked in the shipyards during World War II because many Black men were not accepted into the military. He advised Vicky to remember and write about such things so that society doesn't forget. Vicky's good friend Berta is going steady with Howard, and there is some talk that Chester, a wealthy, popular boy, wants to date Vicky. However, Vicky is interested in the son of the local malt shop owner. Willie is a football player, and when he accidentally knocks Vicky off her feet but catches her, she remembers a comment her father made about a man being a good dancer if he can save a girl being "swept off her feet". Vicky thinks that if she can interview Willie for the newspaper, Ed might let her write more serious articles, so she visits Willie at home when he is sick, making him a hot drink of lemons and honey. In turn, Willie brings her a newfangled peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school. Chester has asked Vicky to homecoming, but she turns him down, and even the studious Thomas is interested in her. He gets rejected after he shares his opinion that girls only go to college to find husbands! Willie invites Vicky to a party at his home, and the two clearly enjoy being together. Vicky writes an article about Bro Brown's Burgers and Malts for the paper, which makes Ed take her more seriously and endears her even more to Willie. At the end of the book, the two share a sweet kiss. An author's note explains the need for remembering both the social injustices faced by Black people in the past, but also the daily joy that is infrequently shown in books.
I really enjoyed this and was glad I bought a copy.
Strengths of the series: The Malt Shop Milestones include all three stories, so I read this as one longer title. I'm an enormous fan of 1950s malt shop titles, and was so excited to come across Ms. Keels' work! She is also a fan of the genre, but was not happy with the lack of Black representation, or worse, negative representation common at the time. She has carefully researched the time period, made delightful romances that include realistic problems, but has also added important context by highlighting Black history in the plots. Vicky, as an aspiring journalist, underlines the importance of preserving stories like the treatment of Black citizens during World War II. Berta's mother refuses to be belittled by her white employers, and the family enjoys popular music by Black artists. Ari's family has to navigate the difficult situations of passing as white and raising an interracial family. The notes at the end of the book address these issues further, and I would love to see Keels write a book about Greenwood, Oklahoma before the horrific racial massacre. There are plenty of details about phone directories and telephone operators, polishing shoes, Kraft television theater, and, of course, Bro Brown's Burgers and Malt, the malt shop of our dreams! Young readers will be thrilled with the gentle romances and the struggles the girls go through to try to plan their paths forward into adulthood. The characters reminded me of the ones in some of my favorite series; Berta would have traded homemaking tips with Dulcie Lungaarde Trighorn from Lenora Mattingly Weber's Beany Malone books, and Vicky and Beany would have bonded over a love of journalism.
Weaknesses of the series: This may be hard for school libraries to include in their collections because the books are over available as paperbacks or e books. Since I read primarily middle grade literature, I wanted more defined plots in all of the stories, but these embrace a more character driven, young adult format. I have a few tiny quibbles; there was not a single sock hop! I had thought that referring to stuffed animals as "stuffies" seemed very modern, but Ms. Keels herself assured me that this term appeared in Ladies' Home Journal in the late 1930s. THAT is a lever of research that I can respect.
What I really think: Traditional publishers are completely missing the boat by not publishing happier historical fiction with characters of color! Romance books are more popular than ever, and the inclusion of Black history alongside positive and sweet teen relationships is the perfect combination.
Along with the Greenwood story, could we also see two star crossed teens from Cleveland, Ohio in 1979 who are involved in the court-ordered school busing of the time? I've been waiting for this book to be written for twenty years!
Vicky Phillips is a high school student in the late 1940s in Port Milestone. She wants to attend college and be a journalist, so is happy to write for her school's newspaper, the Black Diamond Daily, but is irritated that editor Ed assigns her articles about fashion and recipes instead of serious news, just because she is female, since the other female staff member, Hester, does the advice column. Vicky's father is a bank security officer who worked in the shipyards during World War II because many Black men were not accepted into the military. He advised Vicky to remember and write about such things so that society doesn't forget. Vicky's good friend Berta is going steady with Howard, and there is some talk that Chester, a wealthy, popular boy, wants to date Vicky. However, Vicky is interested in the son of the local malt shop owner. Willie is a football player, and when he accidentally knocks Vicky off her feet but catches her, she remembers a comment her father made about a man being a good dancer if he can save a girl being "swept off her feet". Vicky thinks that if she can interview Willie for the newspaper, Ed might let her write more serious articles, so she visits Willie at home when he is sick, making him a hot drink of lemons and honey. In turn, Willie brings her a newfangled peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school. Chester has asked Vicky to homecoming, but she turns him down, and even the studious Thomas is interested in her. He gets rejected after he shares his opinion that girls only go to college to find husbands! Willie invites Vicky to a party at his home, and the two clearly enjoy being together. Vicky writes an article about Bro Brown's Burgers and Malts for the paper, which makes Ed take her more seriously and endears her even more to Willie. At the end of the book, the two share a sweet kiss. An author's note explains the need for remembering both the social injustices faced by Black people in the past, but also the daily joy that is infrequently shown in books.
I really enjoyed this and was glad I bought a copy.
Strengths of the series: The Malt Shop Milestones include all three stories, so I read this as one longer title. I'm an enormous fan of 1950s malt shop titles, and was so excited to come across Ms. Keels' work! She is also a fan of the genre, but was not happy with the lack of Black representation, or worse, negative representation common at the time. She has carefully researched the time period, made delightful romances that include realistic problems, but has also added important context by highlighting Black history in the plots. Vicky, as an aspiring journalist, underlines the importance of preserving stories like the treatment of Black citizens during World War II. Berta's mother refuses to be belittled by her white employers, and the family enjoys popular music by Black artists. Ari's family has to navigate the difficult situations of passing as white and raising an interracial family. The notes at the end of the book address these issues further, and I would love to see Keels write a book about Greenwood, Oklahoma before the horrific racial massacre. There are plenty of details about phone directories and telephone operators, polishing shoes, Kraft television theater, and, of course, Bro Brown's Burgers and Malt, the malt shop of our dreams! Young readers will be thrilled with the gentle romances and the struggles the girls go through to try to plan their paths forward into adulthood. The characters reminded me of the ones in some of my favorite series; Berta would have traded homemaking tips with Dulcie Lungaarde Trighorn from Lenora Mattingly Weber's Beany Malone books, and Vicky and Beany would have bonded over a love of journalism.
Weaknesses of the series: This may be hard for school libraries to include in their collections because the books are over available as paperbacks or e books. Since I read primarily middle grade literature, I wanted more defined plots in all of the stories, but these embrace a more character driven, young adult format. I have a few tiny quibbles; there was not a single sock hop! I had thought that referring to stuffed animals as "stuffies" seemed very modern, but Ms. Keels herself assured me that this term appeared in Ladies' Home Journal in the late 1930s. THAT is a lever of research that I can respect.
What I really think: Traditional publishers are completely missing the boat by not publishing happier historical fiction with characters of color! Romance books are more popular than ever, and the inclusion of Black history alongside positive and sweet teen relationships is the perfect combination.
Along with the Greenwood story, could we also see two star crossed teens from Cleveland, Ohio in 1979 who are involved in the court-ordered school busing of the time? I've been waiting for this book to be written for twenty years!
January 2, 2025
Thank you author Nadine C. Keels for providing a complimentary copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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What a cozy way to start the new year! I'd never heard of the genre malt shop romance before, but when I saw WW2 and Black FMC, I was immediately interested. Too often historical novels are told from white perspectives and gloss over Black American stories. As Ms. Keels mentions in her author's note, when she realized she couldn't find the story she wanted to read, she wrote the damn thing. And we love her for that!
While Ms. Keels does a fantastic job describing what a malt shop romance is, for the purpose of this review, I'll briefly state that it is a cozy, low stakes romance, usually focused around a young adult or teenaged FMC, and has slice-of-life elements as the FMC navigates the world around her. As such, there's zero conflict in this book, it's just damn cozy!
Polka dots, ice cream sodas, victory rolls (and victory gardens) fill the background of sixteen year old Vicky's life, while her studies, family, friends, and burgeoning crush on Willie (the one with the beard) take center stage. Vicky is a rather straight-laced FMC, in that she's modest, respectful, studious, and ambitious. I was a little surprised she never ran into any trouble: not a single B on her report card, nor a spilled soda on her Sunday dress. I feel like a little conflict could have brought this up to a five star cozy read, and having zero conflict, while keeping in theme with the spirit of a malt shop romance, did stop me from being fully invested in Vicky as a character. However, the charm was still palpable and the nostalgia was delightful, and for me, hit basically the same was as an American Girl book. Samantha, Josephine, Molly, Addy, and Kirsten would welcome Vicky into their circle with open arms.
Fans of historical novels and fans of other cozy genres shouldn't miss this. At 128 pages, this novella is the perfect length to while away an afternoon.
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What a cozy way to start the new year! I'd never heard of the genre malt shop romance before, but when I saw WW2 and Black FMC, I was immediately interested. Too often historical novels are told from white perspectives and gloss over Black American stories. As Ms. Keels mentions in her author's note, when she realized she couldn't find the story she wanted to read, she wrote the damn thing. And we love her for that!
While Ms. Keels does a fantastic job describing what a malt shop romance is, for the purpose of this review, I'll briefly state that it is a cozy, low stakes romance, usually focused around a young adult or teenaged FMC, and has slice-of-life elements as the FMC navigates the world around her. As such, there's zero conflict in this book, it's just damn cozy!
Polka dots, ice cream sodas, victory rolls (and victory gardens) fill the background of sixteen year old Vicky's life, while her studies, family, friends, and burgeoning crush on Willie (the one with the beard) take center stage. Vicky is a rather straight-laced FMC, in that she's modest, respectful, studious, and ambitious. I was a little surprised she never ran into any trouble: not a single B on her report card, nor a spilled soda on her Sunday dress. I feel like a little conflict could have brought this up to a five star cozy read, and having zero conflict, while keeping in theme with the spirit of a malt shop romance, did stop me from being fully invested in Vicky as a character. However, the charm was still palpable and the nostalgia was delightful, and for me, hit basically the same was as an American Girl book. Samantha, Josephine, Molly, Addy, and Kirsten would welcome Vicky into their circle with open arms.
Fans of historical novels and fans of other cozy genres shouldn't miss this. At 128 pages, this novella is the perfect length to while away an afternoon.
February 26, 2025
What I Did Like:
* There were lots of little tidbits of history thrown in that are written so perfectly for this age genre. It gave enough to keep you interested and understanding the time period in which we were reading without being over the top or “boring” facts. Also the Author’s note at the end was fantastic and everyone should read those parts.
* Such great characters! Whether the main character or the side characters, they were all written so well that I liked everyone and wanted to read more about them .
* It's a nice break to have a wholesome YA story. There are romantic aspects in here that are sweet and charming, and it doesn’t feel the need to cross into older markets or storylines.
I Received a copy of this for an honest review. Full review can be found at https://alltherightreads.com/2025/02/...
June 13, 2025
I would have loved this book as a young teen. In fact, I love it now. It’s easy to identify with 16-year-old Vicky as she navigates friendship, school, preparing for her future career and, now, boys. The characters are all believable and, for the most part, likeable. I especially appreciate the portrayal of Vicky’s parents, who are obviously crazy about each other.
The issues that come up are believable too. Fear of public embarrassment, not getting the position you want on the school paper… And more serious stuff, like sexism and racism and the importance of community, handled with grace and without preaching. All told with a light, humorous touch.
Like all good books, this one let me step into another time and place, and someone else’s shoes for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of Vicky’s Victory in exchange for an honest review.
The issues that come up are believable too. Fear of public embarrassment, not getting the position you want on the school paper… And more serious stuff, like sexism and racism and the importance of community, handled with grace and without preaching. All told with a light, humorous touch.
Like all good books, this one let me step into another time and place, and someone else’s shoes for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of Vicky’s Victory in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2025
Vicky’s Victory is categorized as Young Adult, yet as an adult reader it was a quick Saturday read which filled me with nostalgic longing. Once I finished the story, the author’s notes that followed were where it got seriously interesting! Because Keels noted the absence of Black characters in traditional Malt Shop fiction and gave an honest assessment of the lack of representation of the lives and dreams of Black Americans. I would love to see this section leading the publication because it gives such important background information.
I can see where this would be the perfect summer book for both parent and child which could then lead to rich discussion.
I can see where this would be the perfect summer book for both parent and child which could then lead to rich discussion.
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